Unraveling revelation: Local author decodes the final book of the Bible

By DEBORAH WHEELER

Published: Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 04:38 PM.

Miller began writing "Understanding the Book of Revelation as Cultural Literature" three years ago and has taught it for two. She teaches it in two parts. The first half was taught this fall and she will begin teaching the second half in January.

The author will sign copies of her book at Coastal Branch Library Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The soft-cover book is also available at Amazon.com and BAN.com for $15.95.

A local woman will sign copies of her book "Understanding the Book of Revelation as Cultural Literature" next week at South Walton's Coastal Branch Library.

Sandy Miller, of SeagroveBeach, has taught the Bible as Literature at the Center for Lifelong Learning on the University of West Florida campus in FortWalton for 11 years. When her class on the Book of Revelation was well received, Miller decided to publish it in book format.

Miller took a year off from teaching at UWF to devote time to study the Book of Revelation in depth. What she found in her studies is that the standard interpretation of the Bible’s final book is not necessarily accurate. In fact, she finds peace amidst the plagues.

"It's not a doom and gloom look," she said of her book. "It's a book that needed to be written."

Miller said that like many others, she also had avoided reading Revelation, which chronicles the apocalypse. But after doing the research, she realized that perspective is everything.

Through her studies, Miller found there was no blood at Armageddon except on Christ, which was the blood he shed on the cross. She said that Christ was dressed in white cotton and he held the sword of truth in his mouth.

Miller says the vision that unfolds in Scripture was influenced by past and present world empires, Middle Eastern Gods and Goddesses, and Roman Emperor worship.

Miller began writing "Understanding the Book of Revelation as Cultural Literature" three years ago and has taught it for two. She teaches it in two parts. The first half was taught this fall and she will begin teaching the second half in January.

The author will sign copies of her book at Coastal Branch Library Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The soft-cover book is also available at Amazon.com and BAN.com for $15.95.